SEATTLE — The Mariners are on the cusp of being at full strength health-wise, which made the abrupt departure of Trade Deadline acquisition Josh Naylor on Thursday afternoon more alarming.
Seattle’s first baseman was pulled to begin the top of the fourth inning of the club’s series finale vs. the White Sox, immediately after an at-bat in which he was seen grimacing before grounding out to first base for the final out in the third. Naylor also exhibited discomfort on a few swings during his first at-bat, a second-inning strikeout.
Naylor was then seen conferring with an athletic trainer before receding to the home clubhouse. No word was immediately available on what led to his departure.
Naylor has been on a heater since joining his new team, going 12-for-46 with three homers in 13 games, good for a slash line of .261/.320/.478 (.798 OPS). He’s also 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts, leading MLB in that category since the trade.
In the first two games of this series, Naylor became one of just four players since 1900 with at least one homer and two stolen bases in consecutive games, along with Ichiro Suzuki (2011), Rickey Henderson (1986) and George Sisler (1920). No one has accomplished that feat in three straight games since 1900.
Thursday’s development came hours before Bryce Miller (right elbow inflammation) was scheduled to make his second rehab start at Triple-A Tacoma later on Thursday, while outfielder and first baseman Luke Raley (back spasms) and Victor Robles (left shoulder dislocation) could be nearing their own rehab assignments in the coming days.
Naylor has avoided the injured list all season, though he did miss one month in the second half last year with Cleveland with a right oblique strain.
